Papers of the Pretoria Club 1885 - & Pretoria Country Club 1921- (MSS Acc 149)

Abstract

The Papers of the Pretoria Club (1885 - ) and the Pretoria Country Club (1921- ) comprise 6,6 linear metres of minutes, letter books and photographs which were donated to the Archives of the Unisa Libraryby Mr Loock van Zyl and the executive committees of the Clubs in 2002. The archival materials of the two Clubs have interesting information on prominent members of society who were active in the social and economic development of the region over many decades. The history of the Clubs is also about the history of Pretoria, its people and the sporting events that took place in the capital city. The Papers of the two Clubs contain information on the social, cultural and economic history and development of the city and its people.

The Pretoria Club dates back to February1885, when the Club was founded by Richard Kelsey Loveday and 54 other signatories. The Club was established to promote social intercourse amongst Gentlemen resident in the Transvaal. Many leading citizens of Pretoria such as TW and TC Beckett, Edmund Bourke, Carl Jeppe, CJ Juta, Piet Marais, EPA Meintjies, AH Nellmapius, Carl Uekermann, Gen. JC Smuts, Justice JS Curlewis, HC Jorrisen, G Rissik and HL Abrahamse were members of the Club. Over the years many distinguished guests visited the Club, including the Prince of Wales, Prince George (later the Duke of Kent), Earl Haig and Baron Haig of Bermersyde and Charles Roberts Swart (first State President of the RSA). In 1935 TCW Dod said in his Notes on the earlier history of the Club - Two features remain, and we trust always will remain unchanged, the club’s reputation for hospitality to visitors, and that neither politics nor racialism has ever entered into its cosmos.

The Pretoria Country Club opened on 8 October 1910. Since its inception many dedicated members of the Club have given much of their time and energy to the development of the Club. Thanks to the endeavours of chairmen, committee members, organisers and team members of the various sporting sections, managers, catering and bar staff, golf professionals, gardeners, groundsmen and others, the Pretoria Country Club has become one of the most attractive and progressive clubs in the country. Unfortunately some of the earlier archival records of the club are missing. The minutes of the general committee meetings date from 1921 onwards, whereas the Executive Committee minutes date from 1966.